Leptospira interrogans

SEM micrograph of L. interrogans

Leptospira interrogans is a bacterium of the genus Leptospira. Is a gram-negative, about 0.1 micron thick, and in the middle piece helically wound bacteria. The length varies 6-20 microns. The ends are hook-shaped or button-like thickening, which Leptospira interrogans resembles a hanger. An axial kontraktives element L. interrogans is movable.

L. interrogans can be combined with conventional dyes stain relatively poorly and is usually examined by dark field microscopy. By silver impregnation can be stained. He is the most important pathogenic pathogens of the genus (→ leptospirosis ), but morphologically indistinguishable from the other representatives.

On the basis of surface antigens over 250 serovars can be distinguished, which are classified into 24 serogroups. Following the nomenclature introduced since 1987 may belong to different serovars genospecies. More frequent representatives are:

• L. australis
• L. bratislava
• L. Jalna

• L. autumnalis

• L. canicola
• L. schuefferi

• L. djasiman

• L. grippotyphosa

• L. heptomadis

• L. copenhageni
• L. icterohaemorrhagiae
• L. smithi

• L. pomona

• L. pyrogenic
• L. zanoni

• L. hardjo
• L. saxkoebing
• L. sejroe
• L. wolfii

• L. tarassovi